Most "promising" fighter who never really blossomed?

[Spicoli]

I've learned the hard way to keep my promising separate from hyped up types who crash and burn...like a Jimmy thunder . Ones who make a splash, have connections or feast on record padding to run up a glossy count only to get badly exposed. Then again some guys have solid skills but on the big stage vs. repeat quality they just were really not that good. Important as some guys come up and you can just tell they have something working, big potential and for one reason or another they are cut short...be it through injury or tragedy. One that stands out and had no definitive 'reason' for packing it in was this kid out of Kronk named Jemal Hinton in the 90's. Ran up a nice undefeated streak, captured some stepping stone straps and had nice network exposure and was all but guaranteed a title fight........one day he just ..gone...retired. Disputes with father were mentioned, religion etc but not many walk away like that.

Mick mentioned Zack Padilla. Dead on! This guy could box his ass off and was on the cusp after nationally televised "tko" of Juan Laporte. Damn shame he had to retire.

Kid 'Akeem' Anifowashe recieved his title fight at 18-0 vs Robert Quiroga. What unfolded was a sensational brutal fight that saw all the skill and promise of Akeem on dislpay in the champions backyard. Quiroga was full of pressure but the numbers did not do the closeness of the fight justice. Texas, go figure. After 12 rounds in a classic type match Anifowashe collapsed and his career ended that night as he underwent emergency surgery with swelling on the brain.

So many. Then ya have boxers who are groomed, almost a bit rushed or pre packaged before they hone true skillset they find themselves on the big stage and its either sink or swim, no going back to smaller venues. Personally I think Berto is here...followed closely by a Gamboa. Have massive skills no doubt but equally have glaring flaws that could come back to bite them badly. Bajado was so sold on power they lost track of plan b,c and d. Too much too soon. Its good to be skeptical whenever you here a network guy or promoter going overboard trying to convince you so and so is the 'next coming of Sugar Ray or Jones jr etc etc.

[Mark TKO]

two names spring to mind that are already mentioned

Bojado (what the hell is he doing now )
Valero

also Cassius Clay - that guy had it all but went off the radar around 1964 , he was the fighter Ali could have been


and yes Naz never achieved what he should have. Ok he 'blossomed' and became a superstar but the regularly used term on here that the fans were 'short changed by a career' has never been more appropriate.

He wasn't as good as a lot of people thought - but lets not forget he hasn't officially retired yet so there's still time for him to prove us all wrong

[bzkfn]

Not sure if he has been mentioned but I remember quite a few boxing experts predicting Joel Julio would be the next big thing. He is no more than a gatekeeper at best these days.

[X]

also Cassius Clay - that guy had it all but went off the radar around 1964

ha - funny

[Master]

also Cassius Clay - that guy had it all but went off the radar around 1964

ha - funny

So did that Walker Smith Jnr.

[brocktonblockbust]

francisco bojado for sure......
what about frankie swindell??

[ElTerribleMorales]

most of the guys mentioned had a combination of problems, mainly either lazy or weren't able to cope with the pressure of living up to what they were being billed to be